In what hopefully could serve as a preview to being awarded the National League MVP, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper won the Hank Aaron Award this Tuesday, along with Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Hank Aaron award is presented to the best offensive player in each league every year, which could suggest that Harper will also be taking home his 2nd league MVP when the winner is announced November 18.
“Hank was one of the titans of this sport and one of the most honorable people to play this great game,” Harper said in a statement released by the Phillies. “To win the award that bears his name for a second time is truly humbling and I am honored.”
This is Harper’s second Hank Aaron award having won with the Washington Nationals in 2015, when he was also crowned the NL MVP. If that doesn’t help his case enough, Ryan Howard won the award in 2006, in which he also was also awarded the NL MVP that same year.
Bryce Harper MVP odds
So, does that guarantee that Bryce Harper wins the MVP? No, but it does help his case.
The last known NL MVP Award odds at before being taken down looked something like this at FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Bryce Harper (Philadelphia) -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
- Juan Soto (Washington) +325 (bet $100 to win $325)
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego) +600 (bet $100 to win $600)
In the second half of the 2021 season, Bryce Harper carried a Philadelphia Phillies team, who without number 3, would not have been relevant in late September. He led MLB with a .615 slugging percentage, 42 doubles, and a 1.044 on-base plus slugging. He batted .309 with 35 home runs and drew 100 walks.
The other two finalists are Washington’s Juan Soto and San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. Neither player had the same impact on their respective teams that Harper did with the Phillies. The Nationals finished the season 32 games under .500 and last place in the NL East Division. Tatis did a little better but also failed to make his team relevant in late September, finishing 4 games under .500.
The Hank Aaron Award is voted on by eight MLB Hall of Famers and online fan ballots. Phillies fans should be hopeful that this year’s NL MVP, which is voted on by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, will be awarded to Bryce Harper, but you never do know.